The Lib Dem administration at Surrey Heath Borough Council raised car parking charges across the Borough to use this additional revenue to invest in public facilities and car parks.
Local residents, however, have not seen this investment with public toilets being closed, a reduction in cleaning in what toilets remain, and weeks taken to carry out maintenance and repair. As one resident stated, "Camberley shops are going! Looks like the women’s toilets are going! WTF! Disgusting! The taps have been like this for weeks. Now toilets. Who is responsible for fixing these toilets?"
Cllr Lewis Mears had previously asked the Lib Dem Portfolio Holder for Property & Economic Development how economic growth and prosperity would be increased, when data shows 80% of residents were not in favour of raising fees by such a hike. In response, a Council officer suggested that the qualitative data analysis will reveal a different picture than the quantitative data.
The Square in Camberley is owned by Surrey Heath Borough Council, with the Council also owning and operating seventeen car parks across the Borough.
